Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-26
WHITE HOUSE CHILDREN.
BOYS AND GIRLS WHO HAVE ROMPEo
THERE IN RECENT YEARS.

Lincoln and His Son 'Tsd"-Dnrins
President Johnson's Administration.
Grants FamiIy-Hayes and Garfield
Children-Arthur's Boy and Girl
81 have been employed at the White
House since 1864, - said Col. W. II. Crook
the other day. "When 1 came here Mr..
Lincoln was president, and / remember
his children well. Robert was then o
young man, and only visited the White
House occasionally He was a captain of
volunteers on Gen. Grants staff. Tad,
the younger son, was his fathers idol. and
he was perfectly wrapped up in the boy.
/ believe the little fellow had more in
fluence with his father than his whole adj
ministration. AS l remember him best,
he was boy of about 8 or 10 years of age,
unusually bright, and OF very inquiring
disposition. He had heart like a
woman's, and was always doing some
good deed.
TAD as LIEUTENANT.
1 accompanied the president on his
memorable visit to the front at Peters
burg. Tad went with his father, who
treated him as a companion, and the boy
had fine time. He wanted to see every
thing that was to be seen, and guess he
saw it all, for he was very observant.
The military was everything in those
days, and Tad was much interested in sol
diers. TO be d soldier was the height of
his ambition. He had regular army
Eeutenant's uniform, with epaulets and
everything, and he would often dress up
in it and strut about in high feather He
was fond of private theatricals and had
room in the White House fitted up as
miniature theatre He used to take about
as much pleasure in driving pair of
goats as in anything else His fathers
death almost broke bis heart. He died
while in Europe with his mother His
older brother, Robert, l remember as
genial, manly fellow, without any snob-
Dish ways.
During President Johnson's admins
tration the White House was always full
of children, although but one was his own
child Mr.. johnson had, however three
other children. His eldest son, Robert,
acted for a good while as his fathers pri-
vate secretary. His two daughters were
Mrs, Patterson and Mrs. Slower, the latter
widow. Both lad children, and these,
with Andrew Johnson, Jr., were known
as the White House children. There were
Andrew Johnson, Jr., boy about II or
IL years OF age; Belle Patterson, about g.;
Andrew Patterson, Z; Lille Slower, 70;
Sarah Slower, 8, and Andrew Slower,
about z. They had large circle of young
friends, and many good time the little
ones had in the big rooms of the White
House. Robert johnson died after his
father returned TO Tennessee. Andrew,
Jr., died after his father, while still
young. He never engaged actively in any
business. Andrew Patterson is now en-
gagged in large manufacturing business
in Tennessee Belle Patterson married
and is now living in New York city. Lii
lie Slower married and is living in Tennes-
see. Sarah Slower is decd, and Andrew
Slower is an invalid living il Tennessee.
Mrs. Slower is dead, but Mrs Patterson,
the other daughter of the president, lives
in Tennessee.
''The Grant children come next" con-
tinued Col Crook There were Fred.
Ulysses, commonly called Buck Nelhe
and Jesse. Their history is familiar to
everybody.
THE HAYES CHILDREN
'The Hayes children come next. Burch-
ard Hayes was the oldest. He did not
live in the White House, and only visited
there occasionally, SO / didn't see very
much of him. Webb Hayes came next,
and then Rutherford b. Hayes. They
were all three good, square, everyday
boys, with 10 nonsense about them, and,
apparently, not a bit stuck up because
their father was president Rutherford
was away at school a good deal of the
time while his father occupied the White
House. / saw q good deal of Webb
Hayes, who attended to much of his
fathers business, and must say he was
good, square, honest fellow, with many
admirable qualities. Fannie and Scott
Hayes were the little ones of the family.
Fannie was a sweet little schoolgirl with
many of her mother attractive qualities.
Scott was a harum scarum little fellow,
brimming over with animal spirits. His
heart was in the right PLACE, and 1 have
no doubt he will make 6 fine man.
The Garfield boys were holy terrors,'
to speak slangily, but everybody liked
them. They made things lively about the
White House and had q mighty good time.
The children were Harry, jim, Molly,
Abraham, and irving. Harry and j i'm were
near Of an age, and they owned the place.
The president was just like boy himself
when he laid aside business, and Joined in
their games with great pleasure. The
boys were up to all kinds of tricks and
pranks, and many were the practical jokes
played on those about the house. The
room il the northeastern corner of tie
house, which is now tho telegraph room,
was then used as q school room DR..
Hawkes. was the tutor. The son Of Col.
Rockwell, who was commissioner Of pub
Lie buildings and grounds, went to school
with the Garfield children.
President Arthur had but two chill
dren, Alan and Nellie Nellie was a favor
ite name for the White House children.
There were Nellie Grant and Nellie Ar
thur. The latter was a pleasant faced lit
tie schoolgirl while she lived at the White
House. Alan Arthur was q student at
Princeton, but came TO Washington quite
frequently. he was rather reserved in
manner, but YVES quite good fellow when
YOU once knew him well. That ends the
list, as far as my memory g0es.-New
York Times.